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Au sommet dâune haute colonne, dominant la ville, se dressait la statue du Prince Heureux.
Tout entier recouvert de minces feuilles dâor fin, il avait deux brillants saphirs en guise dâyeux, et Ă la poignĂ©e de son Ă©pĂ©e brillait un gros rubis rouge.
High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold; for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.
Lâadmiration quâon lui portait Ă©tait gĂ©nĂ©rale.
«Il est beau comme un coq de girouette», fit remarquer lâun des Ă©chevins, qui souhaitait se faire une rĂ©putation dâamateur dâart, «quoique de moindre utilité», ajouta-t-il, car il craignait, bien Ă tort, quâon lâaccusĂąt de manquer dâesprit positif.
He was very much admired indeed. âHe is as beautiful as a weathercock,â remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; âonly not quite so useful,â he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.
«Pourquoi ne peux-tu faire comme le Prince Heureux? demanda une maman à son petit garçon qui pleurait pour voir la lune. Jamais il ne songerait à pleurer pour obtenir quoi que ce soit.»
âWhy canât you be like the Happy Prince?â asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. âThe Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything.â
«Je suis content quâexiste au monde un ĂȘtre vraiment heureux», bredouilla un déçu en contemplant la merveilleuse statue.
âI am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy,â muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.
«Il a tout lâair dâun ange, dirent les enfants de lâAssistance comme ils sortaient de la cathĂ©drale, vĂȘtus dâĂ©clatants manteaux Ă©carlates et de tabliers blancs tout propres.
âHe looks just like an angel,â said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks, and their clean white pinafores.
â Comment le savez-vous? dit le maĂźtre de mathĂ©matiques, vous nâen avez jamais vu.
âHow do you know?â said the Mathematical Master, âyou have never seen one.â
â Ah, mais si! dans nos rĂȘves, rĂ©pondirent les enfants. Le maĂźtre de mathĂ©matiques fronça le sourcil et prit un air sĂ©vĂšre, car il nâapprouvait pas que les enfants rĂȘvassent.
âAh! but we have, in our dreams,â answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.
Un soir, il advint quâun petit martinet vola par-dessus la ville. Ses amis Ă©taient partis pour lâĂgypte six semaines plus tĂŽt, mais il sâĂ©tait attardĂ© par amour pour une trĂšs belle plante de la famille des Roseaux. Il lâavait rencontrĂ©e au printemps, alors quâil descendait la riviĂšre Ă la poursuite dâun gros papillon jaune, et avait Ă©tĂ© si sĂ©duit par la sveltesse de sa taille quâil sâĂ©tait arrĂȘtĂ© pour lui parler.
One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.
«Vous aimerai-je», avait dit le Martinet qui aimait Ă jouer franc jeu, et la Plante sâĂ©tait inclinĂ©e trĂšs bas. Alors il sâĂ©tait mis Ă voleter tout autour dâelle, effleurant de ses ailes lâeau quâil couvrait de ridules argentĂ©es.
âShall I love you?â said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples.
Câest ainsi quâil lui fit sa cour, et celle-ci dura tout lâĂ©tĂ©.
This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.
«Que voilĂ un attachement ridicule! gazouillaient les autres martinets; elle nâa pas le sou, puis sa famille est trop nombreuse»; et, en vĂ©ritĂ©, la riviĂšre regorgeait de Roseaux. Lâautomne venu, tous les martinets sâen Ă©taient allĂ©s.
âIt is a ridiculous attachment,â twittered the other Swallows, âshe has no money, and far too many relationsâ; and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came, they all flew away.
AprĂšs leur dĂ©part, se sentant seul, il avait commencĂ© Ă se lasser de sa dame. «Elle nâa pas de conversation, et je crains que ce ne soit une coquette car elle ne cesse de minauder avec le vent.» De fait, chaque fois que le vent soufflait, la Plante se rĂ©pandait en rĂ©vĂ©rences des plus gracieuses. «Sans doute est-elle fort attachĂ©e Ă son intĂ©rieur, poursuivit-il, mais comme jâaime Ă voyager, ma femme se devra dâaimer les voyages.»
After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. âShe has no conversation,â he said, âand I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind.â And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtsies. âI admit that she is domestic,â he continued, âbut I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also.â
«Mâaccompagnerez-vous?» lui demanda-t-il enfin, mais elle fit non de la tĂȘte : elle Ă©tait trop attachĂ©e Ă sa demeure.
âWill you come away with me?â he said finally to her; but the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.
â Vous vous ĂȘtes jouĂ©e de moi, sâĂ©cria-t-il.
Je pars pour les Pyramides. Ă vous revoir!» et il sâenvola.
âYou have been trifling with me,â he cried. âI am off to the Pyramids. Goodbye!â and he flew away.
Tout le jour il vola, et le soir il parvint Ă la ville.
All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city.
«OĂč mâinstaller? dit-il. JâespĂšre que la municipalitĂ© aura fait des prĂ©paratifs.»
âWhere shall I put up?â he said; âI hope the town has made preparations.â
Câest alors quâil aperçut la statue, tout en haut de la colonne. «Je vais mâinstaller lĂ -haut, sâĂ©cria-t-il. La situation est excellente, et lâair frais ne manque pas.»
Il alla donc se percher entre les pieds du Prince Heureux.
Then he saw the statue on the tall column. âI will put up there,â he cried; âit is a fine position with plenty of fresh air.â So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.
«Jâai une chambre en or», murmura-t-il en regardant tout alentour. Il se prĂ©parait Ă sâendormir quand, Ă lâinstant prĂ©cis oĂč il allait abriter la tĂȘte sous son aile, une grosse goutte dâeau lui tomba dessus. «Comme câest bizarre! sâĂ©cria t-il. Pas un nuage au ciel, les Ă©toiles brillent de tout leur Ă©clat, et voilĂ quâil pleut. DĂ©cidĂ©ment, il fait bien mauvais dans le nord de lâEurope.
Mlle Roseau aimait la pluie, mais par pur égoïsme.»
âI have a golden bedroom he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. âWhat a curious thing!â he cried. âthere is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness.â
Une deuxiĂšme goutte tomba.
Then another drop fell.
«à quoi sert donc une statue si elle ne protĂšge pas de la pluie? Je mâen vais chercher quelque bonne cheminĂ©e», et il rĂ©solut de prendre son envol.
âWhat is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?â he said; âI must look for a good chimney-pot,â and he determined to fly away.
Mais avant quâil ait dĂ©ployĂ© ses ailes, une troisiĂšme goutte tomba. Il leva les yeux et dĂ©couvrit⊠Ah! Que dĂ©couvrit-il donc?
Les yeux du Prince Heureux Ă©taient emplis de larmes, et des larmes coulaient le long de ses joues dâor. Sous la lumiĂšre de la lune, son visage Ă©tait si beau que le petit martinet se sentit envahi de pitiĂ©.
But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw. Ah! what did he see? The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.
â Qui ĂȘtes-vous? demanda-t-il.
âWho are you?â he said.
â Je suis le Prince Heureux.
âI am the Happy Prince.â
â Alors pourquoi pleurez-vous? demanda le Martinet. Vous mâavez complĂštement trempĂ©.
âWhy are you weeping then?â asked the Swallow; âyou have quite drenched me.â
â Lorsque jâĂ©tais en vie et que je possĂ©dais un cĆur dâhomme, rĂ©pondit la statue, jâignorais ce que câĂ©tait que les larmes car je vivais au palais de Sans-Souci, oĂč le chagrin nâa pas le droit de pĂ©nĂ©trer. Pendant le jour je jouais dans le jardin avec mes compagnons, le soir je menais le bal dans le Grand Salon. Le jardin Ă©tait ceint dâun mur fort imposant, mais jamais je ne me souciai de demander ce qui se trouvait derriĂšre. Tout Ă©tait si beau autour de moi! Mes courtisans mâappelaient le Prince Heureux, et si le bonheur nâest rien dâautre que le plaisir, oui, jâĂ©tais heureux. Ainsi je vĂ©cus, ainsi je mourus. Et maintenant que je suis mort, on mâa installĂ© ici, tellement haut que je peux voir toute la laideur et toute la misĂšre de ma ville. Mon cĆur a beau ĂȘtre fait de plomb, comment ne pleurerais-je?»
âWhen I was alive and had a human heart,â answered the statue, âI did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the day time I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot choose but weep.â
«Quoi! il nâest pas en or massif?» se dit le Martinet Ă part lui. Sa politesse lâempĂȘchait dâexprimer Ă haute voix des remarques personnelles.
âWhat, is he not solid gold?â said the Swallow to himself. He was too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.
«LĂ -bas, poursuivit la statue dâune voix basse et musicale, lĂ -bas dans une petite rue, il est une pauvre maison. Une des fenĂȘtres est ouverte, et Ă travers elle je distingue une femme, assise Ă une table. Son visage est mince et las, et ses mains sont rugueuses et rouges, toutes piquetĂ©es par lâaiguille, car elle est couturiĂšre. Elle brode des passiflores sur une robe de satin que la plus jolie des demoiselles dâhonneur de la Reine portera lors du prochain bal de la Cour. Sur un lit, dans un coin de la piĂšce, gĂźt son petit garçon qui est malade. Il a la fiĂšvre et demande des oranges. Comme sa mĂšre nâa rien Ă lui donner que de lâeau de riviĂšre, il pleure.
Martinet, martinet, petit martinet, ne veux-tu pas lui porter le rubis de la poignée de mon épée? Mes pieds sont attachés à ce piédestal, et je ne peux bouger.
âFar away,â continued the statue in a low musical voice, âfar away in a little street there is a poor house. One of the windows is open, and through it I can see a woman seated at a table. Her face is thin and worn, and she has coarse red hands, all pricked by the needle, for she is a seamstress. She is embroidering passion-flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest of the Queenâs maids-of-honour to wear at the next Court-ball. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill. He has a fever, and is asking for oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river water, so he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you not bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt? My feet are fastened to this pedestal and I cannot move.â
â On mâattend en Ăgypte, dit le Martinet. Mes amis volent en tous sens au-dessus du Nil, et parlent aux grandes fleurs de lotus. BientĂŽt ils sâen iront dormir dans le tombeau du Grand Roi. Le Roi est lĂ , en personne, dans son cercueil bariolĂ©. On lâa emmaillotĂ© de lin jaune et embaumĂ© avec des Ă©pices. Autour de son cou, il y a une chaĂźne de jade vert pĂąle. Ses mains semblent des feuilles fanĂ©es.
âI am waited for in Egypt,â said the Swallow. âMy friends are flying up and down the Nile, and talking to the large lotus-flowers. Soon they will be going to sleep in the tomb of the great King. The King is there himself in his painted coffin. He is wrapped in yellow linen, and embalmed with spices. Round his neck is a chain of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves.â
â Martinet, martinet, petit martinet, dit le Prince, ne veux-tu pas rester une seule nuit auprĂšs de moi, et me servir de messager? Le garçon a tellement soif, et sa mĂšre est si triste.
âSwallow, Swallow, little Swallow,â said the Prince, âwill you not stay with me for one night, and be my messenger? The boy is so thirsty, and the mother so sad.â
â Je ne crois pas avoir de penchant pour les garçons, rĂ©pondit le Martinet. LâĂ©tĂ© dernier, lorsque jâĂ©tais installĂ© sur la riviĂšre, deux garçons mal Ă©levĂ©s â les fils du meunier â ne cessaient de me jeter des pierres. Jamais ils ne mâont touchĂ©, bien sĂ»r; nous autres martinets sommes dâhabiles voltigeurs, et je viens dâune famille cĂ©lĂšbre pour son agilitĂ©; ce nâen Ă©tait pas moins une marque dâirrespect.»
âI donât think I like boys,â answered the Swallow. âLast summer, when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys, the millerâs sons, who were always throwing stones at me. They never hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and besides, I come of a family famous for its agility; but still, it was a mark of disrespect.â
Mais le Prince Heureux avait lâair si triste que le petit martinet se sentit affligĂ©. «Il fait bien froid ici, rĂ©pondit-il, mais je resterai auprĂšs de vous une seule nuit, et je vous servirai de messager.
But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was sorry. âIt is very cold here,â he said; âbut I will stay with you for one night, and be your messenger.â
â Merci, petit martinet», dit le Prince.
âThank you, little Swallow,â said the Prince.
Et le Martinet picota lâĂ©pĂ©e du Prince pour en dĂ©gager le gros rubis quâil prit dans son bec avant de sâenvoler par-dessus les toits de la ville.
So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Princeâs sword, and flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town.
Il passa devant la tour de la cathĂ©drale, oĂč Ă©taient sculptĂ©s les anges de marbre blanc. Il passa devant le palais et entendit la rumeur de la danse.
Une belle jeune fille sortit sur le balcon avec son amoureux. «Comme les Ă©toiles sont merveilleuses, lui disait-il, et comme est merveilleux le pouvoir de lâamour!
â JâespĂšre que ma robe sera prĂȘte Ă temps pour le bal de la Cour, rĂ©pondit-elle, jâai commandĂ© dây faire broder des passiflores, mais les couturiĂšres sont tellement paresseusesâŠÂ»
He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover. âHow wonderful the stars are,â he said to her, âand how wonderful is the power of love!â âI hope my dress will be ready in time for the State-ball,â she answered; âI have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it; but the seamstresses are so lazy.â
Il passa au-dessus de la riviĂšre, et il vit les lanternes accrochĂ©es aux mĂąts des navires. Il passa au-dessus du Ghetto, et il vit les vieux juifs qui marchandaient entre eux et pesaient de lâargent dans des balances de cuivre. Pour finir, il parvint Ă la pauvre maison et regarda Ă lâintĂ©rieur. Le garçon se retournait fiĂ©vreusement sur son lit; la mĂšre sâĂ©tait endormie tant elle Ă©tait fatiguĂ©e. Il sauta dans la piĂšce et dĂ©posa le gros rubis sur la table, prĂšs du dĂ© Ă coudre de la femme. Puis il voleta dĂ©licatement tout autour du lit, Ă©ventant de ses ailes le front du garçon. «Quelle fraĂźcheur ! dit le garçon, je dois aller mieux»; et il sâabĂźma dans un dĂ©licieux sommeil.
He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships. He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old Jews bargaining with each other, and weighing out money in copper scales. At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the table beside the womanâs thimble. Then he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boyâs forehead with his wings. âHow cool I feel,â said the boy, âI must be getting betterâ; and he sank into a delicious slumber.
Lors, le Martinet sâen retourna auprĂšs du Prince Heureux auquel il raconta ce quâil avait fait. «Câest bizarre, remarqua-t-il, mais je me sens tout rĂ©chauffĂ© alors quâil fait si froid.
Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince, and told him what he had done. âIt is curious,â he remarked, âbut I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.â
â Câest parce que tu as fait une bonne action», dit le Prince. Et le Martinet se mit Ă rĂ©flĂ©chir, puis sâendormit. La rĂ©flexion lui donnait toujours sommeil.
âThat is because you have done a good action,â said the Prince. And the little Swallow began to think, and then he fell asleep. Thinking always made him sleepy.
Lorsque le jour se leva, il vola jusquâĂ la riviĂšre et prit un bain.
«Quel phĂ©nomĂšne remarquable! dit le professeur dâornithologie qui traversait le pont. Un martinet en hiver!» Et il Ă©crivit une longue lettre Ă ce sujet dans le journal local. Chacun la cita tant elle Ă©tait remplie de mots que nul ne comprenait.
When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath. âWhat a remarkable phenomenon,â said the Professor of Ornithology as he was passing over the bridge. âA swallow in winter!â And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it, it was full of so many words that they could not understand.
«Ce soir, je pars pour lâĂgypte, dit le Martinet qui se sentit tout ragaillardi Ă cette idĂ©e. Il visita tous les monuments publics, et demeura un long moment au sommet de la flĂšche de lâĂ©glise. Partout oĂč il se rendait, les moineaux piaillaient et se disaient lâun Ă lâautre: «Quel Ă©tranger de mine distinguĂ©e!» Aussi sâamusait-il beaucoup.
âTo-night I go to Egypt,â said the Swallow, and he was in high spirits at the prospect. He visited all the public monuments, and sat a long time on top of the church steeple. Wherever he went the Sparrows chirruped, and said to each other, âWhat a distinguished stranger!â so he enjoyed himself very much.
Lorsque la lune se leva, il vola une nouvelle fois vers le Prince Heureux.
«Avez-vous quelque commission Ă porter en Ăgypte ? lança-t-il. Je pars Ă lâinstant.
When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince. âHave you any commissions for Egypt?â he cried. âI am just starting.â
â Martinet, martinet, petit martinet, dit le Prince, ne veux-tu pas rester avec moi une nuit de plus?
âSwallow, Swallow, little Swallow,â said the Prince, âwill you not stay with me one night longer?â
â On mâattend en Ăgypte, rĂ©pondit le martinet. Demain mes amis voleront jusquâĂ la DeuxiĂšme Cataracte. Lâhippopotame sây accroupit parmi les roseaux, et sur une vaste demeure de granit est assis le dieu Memnon. Toute la nuit il regarde les Ă©toiles, et quand brille celle du matin il pousse un cri de joie, puis se tait. Ă midi les lions jaunes descendent au bord de lâeau pour boire. Leurs yeux sont comme des bĂ©ryls verts, et ils rugissent plus fort encore que la cataracte.
âI am waited for in Egypt,â answered the Swallow. âTo-morrow my friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne sits the God Memnon. All night long he watches the stars, and when the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then he is silent. At noon the yellow lions come down to the waterâs edge to drink. They have eyes like green beryls, and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.â
«Martinet, martinet, petit martinet, dit le Prince. LĂ -bas, Ă lâautre bout de la ville, je vois un jeune homme dans une mansarde. Il se penche sur un bureau couvert de papiers. Dans un gobelet, prĂšs de lui, il y a un bouquet de violettes fanĂ©es. Ses cheveux sont bruns et crĂ©pus, ses lĂšvres rouges comme la grenade, et il a de grands yeux rĂȘveurs. Il essaie de finir une piĂšce pour le directeur du ThĂ©Ăątre, mais il a trop froid pour continuer Ă Ă©crire. Il nây a pas de feu dans lâĂątre, et la faim lâa fait sâĂ©vanouir.
âSwallow, Swallow, little Swallow,â said the Prince, âfar away across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over a desk covered with papers, and in a tumbler by his side there is a bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint.â
â Jâattendrai auprĂšs de vous une seule autre nuit, dit le Martinet qui avait vraiment bon cĆur. Lui porterai-je un autre rubis?
â HĂ©las! Je nâai plus de rubis Ă prĂ©sent, dit le Prince. Mes yeux sont tout ce qui me reste.
Ils sont faits de rares saphirs quâon a rapportĂ©s de lâInde il y a mille ans. Arraches-en un et apporte le-lui. Il le vendra au bijoutier, il achĂštera du bois et il finira sa piĂšce.
âI will wait with you one night longer,â said the Swallow, who really had a good heart. âShall I take him another ruby?â âAlas! I have no ruby now,â said the Prince; âmy eyes are all that I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago. Pluck out one of them and take it to him. He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy food and firewood, and finish his play.â
â Cher Prince, dit le Martinet, je ne peux pas faire cela, et il se mit Ă pleurer.
âDear Prince,â said the Swallow, âI cannot do thatâ; and he began to weep.
â Martinet, martinet, petit martinet, dit le Prince, fais ce que je tâordonne.»
âSwallow, Swallow, little Swallow,â said the Prince, âdo as I command you.â
Et le Martinet, ayant arrachĂ© lâĆil du Prince, sâenvola vers la mansarde de lâĂ©tudiant. Il Ă©tait bien facile dây entrer Ă cause dâun trou dans le toit. Le Martinet sây engouffra et pĂ©nĂ©tra dans la piĂšce. Le jeune homme avait enfoui sa tĂȘte entre ses mains, aussi nâentendit-il pas le battement des ailes de lâoiseau. Mais quand il leva les yeux, il dĂ©couvrit le beau saphir posĂ© sur les violettes fanĂ©es.
So the Swallow plucked out the Princeâs eye, and flew away to the studentâs garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room. The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear the flutter of the birdâs wings, and when he looked up he found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.
â On commence Ă mâapprĂ©cier! sâĂ©cria-t-il. Cela sera venu de quelque fervent admirateur. Je peux finir ma piĂšce maintenant.»
Le jour suivant, le Martinet descendit jusquâau port. PerchĂ© sur le mĂąt dâun grand vaisseau, il contempla les matelots qui, Ă lâaide de cordes, hissaient de vastes coffres hors de la cale.
«Ho-Hisse!» criaient-ils chaque fois quâun coffre sâĂ©levait. «Je mâen vais en Ăgypte!» sâĂ©criait le Martinet, nuis personne ne lui prĂȘtait attention. Quand la lune se leva, il sâen revint auprĂšs du Prince Heureux.
âI am beginning to be appreciated,â he cried; âthis is from some great admirer. Now I can finish my play,â and he looked quite happy. The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat on the mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests out of the hold with ropes. âHeave a-hoy!â they shouted as each chest came up. âI am going to Egypt!â cried the Swallow, but nobody minded, and when the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince.
«Je suis venu vous faire mes adieux, lança-t-il.
âI am come to bid you good-bye,â he cried.
â Martinet, martinet, petit martinet, dit le Prince, ne resteras-tu pas une nuit de plus auprĂšs de moi?
âSwallow, Swallow, little Swallow,â said the Prince, âwill you not stay with me one night longer?â
â Câest lâhiver, rĂ©pondit le Martinet, et bientĂŽt la neige glaciale sera lĂ . En Ăgypte le soleil est chaud sur les verts palmiers. Les crocodiles sont allongĂ©s dans la boue et regardent paresseusement autour dâeux. Mes compagnons bĂątissent un nid dans le temple de Baalbec, et les colombes roses et blanches les regardent en roucoulant entre elles. Cher Prince, il faut que je vous quitte mais jamais je ne vous oublierai. Le printemps prochain je vous rapporterai deux bijoux magnifiques pour remplacer ceux que vous avez donnĂ©s. Le rubis sera plus rouge quâune rose rouge, et le saphir aussi bleu que la mer immense.
âIt is winter,â answered the Swallow, âand the chill snow will soon be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them. My companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the pink and white doves are watching them, and cooing to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will never forget you, and next spring I will bring you back beautiful jewels in place of those you have given away. The ruby shall be redder than a red rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea.â
â En bas, sur la place, se tient une petite marchande dâallumettes, dit le Prince Heureux.
Elle a laissĂ© ses allumettes tomber dans le caniveau, et elles ont toutes Ă©tĂ© gĂątĂ©es. Son pĂšre la battra si elle ne rapporte pas dâargent Ă la maison, et elle pleure. Elle nâa ni chaussures ni bas, et sa petite tĂȘte est nue. Arrache-moi mon autre Ćil, donne-le-lui et son pĂšre ne la battra pas.
âIn the square below,â said the Happy Prince, âthere stands a little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and they are all spoiled. Her father will beat her if she does not bring home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye, and give it to her, and her father will not beat her.â
â Je resterai une nuit de plus auprĂšs de vous, dit le Martinet, mais je ne peux pas vous arracher votre Ćil. Vous seriez complĂštement aveugle.
â Martinet, martinet, petit martinet, dit le Prince, fais ce que je tâordonne.»
âI will stay with you one night longer,â said the Swallow, âbut I cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind then.â âSwallow, Swallow, little Swallow,â said the Prince, âdo as I command you.â
Ayant arrachĂ© lâautre Ćil du Prince, le Martinet sâĂ©lança. Il passa comme une flĂšche prĂšs de la marchande dâallumettes et lui glissa le joyau dans la paume de la main.
«Oh, le joli morceau de verre!» sâĂ©cria la petite fille qui rentra chez elle en riant.
So he plucked out the Princeâs other eye, and darted down with it. He swooped past the match-girl, and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand. âWhat a lovely bit of glass,â cried the little girl; and she ran home, laughing.
Alors le Martinet retourna auprĂšs du Prince.
«Maintenant que vous voilà aveugle je resterai toujours auprÚs de vous.
Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. âYou are blind now,â he said, âso I will stay with you always.â
â Non, petit martinet, dit le pauvre Prince, il faut que tu partes pour lâĂgypte.
âNo, little Swallow,â said the poor Prince, âyou must go away to Egypt.â
â Je resterai toujours auprĂšs de vous», dit le Martinet qui sâendormit auprĂšs du Prince.
âI will stay with you always,â said the Swallow, and he slept at the Princeâs feet.
Pendant toute la journĂ©e du lendemain, il lui conta ce quâil avait vu en Ă©tranges contrĂ©es. Il lui parla des longues rangĂ©es dâibis rouges, debout au bord du Nil, qui happent dans leurs becs des cyprins dorĂ©s; du Sphinx, qui est aussi vieux que le monde lui-mĂȘme â il vit dans le dĂ©sert et connaĂźt toute chose; des marchands qui marchent Ă pas lents au cĂŽtĂ© de leurs chameaux et tiennent Ă la main des chapelets dâambre; du roi des montagnes de la Lune, qui est noir comme lâĂ©bĂšne et adore un vaste cristal; du grand Serpent vert qui dort dans un palmier et se fait nourrir de gĂąteaux au miel par vingt prĂȘtres; et aussi des PygmĂ©es qui, montĂ©s sur de larges feuilles plates, voguent Ă travers un grand lac et mĂšnent une guerre perpĂ©tuelle contre les papillons.
All the next day he sat on the Princeâs shoulder, and told him stories of what he had seen in strange lands. He told him of the red ibises, who stand in long rows on the banks of the Nile, and catch gold fish in their beaks; of the Sphinx, who is as old as the world itself, and lives in the desert, and knows everything; of the merchants, who walk slowly by the side of their camels, and carry amber beads in their hands; of the King of the Mountains of the Moon, who is as black as ebony, and worships a large crystal; of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree, and has twenty priests to feed it with honey-cakes; and of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves, and are always at war with the butterflies.
«Cher petit martinet, dit le Prince, tu me parles de merveilles, mais rien nâest plus merveilleux que la souffrance des hommes et des femmes. La MisĂšre excĂšde tout MystĂšre. Vole au-dessus de ma ville, petit martinet. Raconte moi ce que tu vois lĂ -bas.»
âDear little Swallow,â said the Prince, âyou tell me of marvellous things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Misery. Fly over my city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see there.â
Et le Martinet survola la grande ville. Il vit les riches sâĂ©gayant dans leurs splendides demeures, tandis que les mendiants restaient assis devant les grilles. Il vola par de sombres ruelles et vit les faces blĂȘmes des enfants affamĂ©s qui fixaient distraitement les rues noires. Sous lâarche dâun pont, deux petits garçons, pour se rĂ©chauffer, se serraient dans les bras lâun de lâautre. «Comme nous avons faim!» dirent-ils. «Interdit de dormir ici», cria le veilleur, et ils sâen allĂšrent sous la pluie.
So the Swallow flew over the great city, and saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at the gates. He flew into dark lanes, and saw the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets. Under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one anotherâs arms to try and keep themselves warm. âHow hungry we are!â they said. âYou must not lie here,â shouted the Watchman, and they wandered out into the rain.
Alors le Martinet sâen revint conter au Prince ce quâil avait vu.
«Je suis couvert dâor fin, dit le Prince, il faut que tu lâenlĂšves feuille Ă feuille et que tu en fasses don Ă mes pauvres; les vivants sâimaginent toujours que lâor peut les rendre heureux.»
Then he flew back and told the Prince what he had seen. âI am covered with fine gold,â said the Prince, âyou must take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think that gold can make them happy.â
Une Ă une, le Martinet dĂ©tacha les feuilles dâor fin jusquâĂ ce que le Prince Heureux eĂ»t pris un aspect tout terne et gris. Une Ă une, il portait aux pauvres les feuilles dâor, et les visages des enfants en devenaient plus roses. Ils se mettaient Ă rire et Ă jouer en pleine rue. «Nous avons du pain maintenant!» sâĂ©criaient-ils.
Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, till the Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the fine gold he brought to the poor, and the childrenâs faces grew rosier, and they laughed and played games in the street. âWe have bread now!â they cried.
Puis vint la neige, et le gel aprĂšs la neige. Les rues semblaient faites dâargent tant elles luisaient, Ă©tincelaient; tels des poignards de cristal, de longs glaçons pendaient aux avant-toits des maisons, tout le monde se promenait en fourrure, et les petits garçons, coiffĂ©s de casquettes cramoisies, patinaient sur la glace.
Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets looked as if they were made of silver, they were so bright and glistening; long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the eaves of the houses, everybody went about in furs, and the little boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.
Le pauvre petit martinet avait de plus en plus froid, mais il ne voulait pas quitter le prince. Il lâaimait trop tendrement. Lorsque le boulanger regardait ailleurs, il becquetait des miettes Ă la porte de la boulangerie et tentait de se rĂ©chauffer en battant des ailes.
The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder, but he would not leave the Prince, he loved him too well. He picked up crumbs outside the bakerâs door when the baker was not looking, and tried to keep himself warm by flapping his wings.
Mais, au bout du compte, il sut quâil allait mourir. Il eut tout juste la force de voler une fois de plus jusquâĂ lâĂ©paule du Prince.
«Au revoir, cher Prince! murmura-t-il. Me laisserez-vous baiser votre main?
But at last he knew that he was going to die. He had just strength to fly up to the Princeâs shoulder once more. âGood-bye, dear Prince!â he murmured, âwill you let me kiss your hand?â
â Petit martinet, je suis heureux que tu partes enfin pour lâĂgypte, dit le Prince. Tu es restĂ© ici trop longtemps. Mais tu dois me baiser les lĂšvres car je tâaime.
âI am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, little Swallow,â said the Prince, âyou have stayed too long here; but you must kiss me on the lips, for I love you.â
«Ce nâest pas en Ăgypte que je vais», rĂ©pondit le Martinet. «Je vais Ă la maison de la Mort. La Mort nâest-elle pas la sĆur du Sommeil?»
âIt is not to Egypt that I am going,â said the Swallow. âI am going to the House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he not?â
Et il baisa les lĂšvres du Prince Heureux avant de tomber mort Ă ses pieds.
And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet.
Ă cet instant, un Ă©trange craquement se fit entendre Ă lâintĂ©rieur de la statue, comme si quelque chose sây Ă©tait brisĂ©. Oui, le cĆur de plomb venait de se fendre en deux morceaux.
Sans doute Ă©tait-ce la faute dâun gel terriblement dur.
At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had snapped right in two. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost.
TÎt le lendemain matin, le maire, accompagné des échevins, traversa la place en contrebas.
Lorsquâils passĂšrent devant la colonne, il leva les yeux vers la statue :
«Mon Dieu! Le Prince semble en bien piteux état! dit-il.
Early the next morning the Mayor was walking in the square below in company with the Town Councillors. As they passed the column he looked up at the statue: âDear me! how shabby the Happy Prince looks!â he said.
â Piteux Ă©tat en vĂ©ritĂ©!» sâexclamĂšrent les Ă©chevins qui Ă©taient toujours dâaccord avec le maire, et ils montĂšrent lâexaminer.
âHow shabby indeed!â cried the Town Councillors, who always agreed with the Mayor, and they went up to look at it.
«Le rubis est tombĂ© de son Ă©pĂ©e, ses yeux ont disparu, il nâest plus dorĂ©, dit le maire. Vrai, il ne vaut guĂšre mieux quâun mendiant!
âThe ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is golden no longer,â said the Mayor. âin fact, he is little better than a beggar!â
â GuĂšre mieux quâun mendiant, reprirent les Ă©chevins.
â Et voilĂ -t-il pas un oiseau mort Ă ses pieds! continua le maire. DĂ©cidĂ©ment, il nous faut proclamer que les oiseaux nâont pas le droit de mourir ici.» Le secrĂ©taire de mairie prit bonne note de la suggestion.
âLittle better than a beggar,â said the Town Councillors. âAnd here is actually a dead bird at his feet!â continued the Mayor. âWe must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die here.â And the town Clerk made a note of the suggestion.
On abattit donc la statue du Prince Heureux.
«Nâayant plus de beautĂ©, le prince nâest plus utile», dit le professeur dâart Ă lâuniversitĂ©.
So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. âAs he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful,â said the Art Professor at the University.
Alors on fondit la statue dans une fournaise, et le maire rĂ©unit un conseil de la guilde pour dĂ©cider de ce quâon ferait du mĂ©tal.
«Bien entendu, il nous faut une autre statue : la mienne, déclara-t-il.
Then they melted the statue in a furnace, and the Mayor held a meeting of the Corporation to decide what was to be done with the metal. âWe must have another statue, of course,â he said, âand it shall be a statue of myself.â
â La mienne», rĂ©pĂ©tĂšrent tous les Ă©chevins, et ils se querellĂšrent. La derniĂšre fois que jâentendis parler dâeux, ils se querellaient encore.
âOf myself,â said each of the Town Councillors, and they quarrelled. When I last heard of them they were quarrelling still.
«Comme câest bizarre! dit le contremaĂźtre de la fonderie. Ce cĆur de plomb brisĂ© se refuse Ă fondre dans la fournaise. Il nous faut le jeter,» On le jeta donc sur un tas dâordures oĂč gisait le Martinet mort.
âWhat a strange thing,â said the overseer of the workmen at the foundry. âThis broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. We must throw it away.â So they threw it on a dust heap where the dead Swallow was also lying.
«Apportez-moi les deux objets les plus prĂ©cieux de la ville», demanda Dieu Ă lâun de ses anges; et lâange lui apporta le cĆur de plomb et lâoiseau mort.
âBring me the two most precious things in the city,â said God to one of His Angels; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and the dead bird.
«Tu as justement choisi, dit Dieu, car dans mon jardin de paradis ce petit oiseau chantera Ă jamais, et dans ma ville dâor le Prince Heureux chantera mes louanges.»
âYou have rightly chosen,â said God, âfor in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me.â
Đ Đ”ĐșĐ»Đ°ĐŒĐ°